Early Morning Ride
My adventure started early in the morning. I woke up excited and began preparing for the day’s trip. Knowing my destination ahead of time (not Dalara), I rented a dirt bike and packed my usual gear, including my GoPro. I skipped breakfast and hit the road. Riding past Mt. Tapyas, a favorite spot in Coron, I decided to stop at my friend’s hostel called Ecocio. Its reception area was very chill with relaxing music, which I enjoyed. I had one mission: to see the cute dog my friend often posted about on social media. The big puppy was sleeping peacefully when I arrived.
Decision to Climb Mt. Dalara
After that, I decided to finally check out Mount Dalara, as I had never been there. It had been on my to-do list for a long time, and conveniently, my friend lived nearby. The plan was set: visit my friend, then head to Mount Dalara. The weather that day was unusually nice; it had poured rain the day before (and would rain heavily the day after). It felt like a glitch in the matrix—bright and sunny in the middle of the rainy season. On a whim, following the flow of the day’s events, I decided to seize the opportunity.
Taking the Mountain Road
I took the road leading up to Mount Dalara—a path I usually drove past without taking. Today I decided to give it a try. The road was dirt and rocky as it ascended the mountain. Thankfully, my dirt bike with its extra suspension shocks handled it smoothly. After a while, I reached a crossroads. Nearby was a house with the sound of children playing; a little boy shouted at me in English. For a moment I thought it might be my friend’s son. Later I found out it actually was him playing with other kids. I approached the house to ask for directions. A young girl appeared over the fence and pointed me toward the path. She even knew where my friend lived, so I followed her instructions.
Meeting My Friend
The road became steeper, with broken stones and loose gravel—tough to climb and even tougher to descend. I saw my friend’s beat-up dirt bike parked by the path, and found him working on a building. We chatted for a while, admiring the amazing view he had of Mount Dalara. I had never been here before, and the view was honestly breathtaking. It was quiet with a cool breeze. I even noticed the Globe and Smart telecommunications towers on Dalara, which meant he had perfect cell service even out here in the jungle. After catching up, he offered to show me the entrance to Mt. Dalara. We rode further uphill until we reached a dead end at someone’s property. My friend called out to the owner, who kindly came down and revealed a secret path through his property that leads to the main road to Mt. Dalara—a shortcut!
Jungle Ascent
We said our goodbyes, and I began the solo ascent. First came the dense uphill jungle, with slippery roots and broken rocks underfoot. Everything was green and quiet, the only sounds being the birds and the whisper of wind in the trees. In fact, the rustling leaves sounded almost like running water—reminding me of tales about a hidden waterfall on Mt. Dalara. Unfortunately, mosquitoes were a constant nuisance during this part of the climb.
Cliff Face Ascent
After ascending through the jungle, the trail transformed into an even steeper cliff face. Now it was covered with low grass, rocky steps, and loose gravel. Each step felt dangerous; a slip could mean a long fall. From certain spots, I could see the entire town below. It was easy to feel vertigo on this exposed path. I paused at several points to capture videos—the scenery was truly spectacular. Eventually, after climbing the rugged steps, I reached the summit clearing. A field of grass stretched as far as the eye could see, like the famous Windows XP default wallpaper in real life.
Final Ascent to the Summit
At this grassy clearing, I spotted the Globe telecommunications tower nearby, and further uphill a smaller hill leading to the mountain’s highest point with the Smart telecommunications tower. The road to the Smart tower was surprisingly beautiful—waves of tall grass swayed in the wind while clouds cast shifting shadows on the vibrant green. I took a rest here before making the final ascent.
Continuing up to the Smart tower, the trail deteriorated into a rough road of loose gravel, steeply inclined and eroded by the heavy rains. When I finally reached the top, I expected an official summit, but instead found what looked like a dump ground: old radios, broken radiators, engines, and satellite dishes, all rusting in overgrown grass. Still, I was at the top, and the view was unparalleled. I could see across the entire island clearly. In the middle of the rainy season, everything was lush and green. It felt like the weather gods gave me one perfect day to see this rare sight: a clear, rain-free view of Busuanga Island.
The Summit View and Rest
There wasn’t anywhere comfortable to sit near the Smart tower, so I found a small solar panel that cast a bit of shade. The ground beneath was covered in soft, green moss. I decided to lie down and take a brief nap, maybe half an hour. The breeze was wonderfully cool, likely from the lingering moisture of the rainy season. It was so peaceful and quiet—only the sound of the wind around me, carrying the view of the entire land. I closed my eyes and rested, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment.
Mission completed.